About the Job
WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.
For more information, visit wppmedia.com.
3831 - Associate Director, Search-Paid - Manchester
Key Responsibilities
Performance Management
Take full strategic ownership of paid search performance across large spending client portfolio, setting ambition and direction in partnership with senior client stakeholders.
Develop paid search best practices, ensuring adherence to controls and processes.
Act as the escalation point for paid search strategic problems, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and growth pathways.
Champion innovation by testing and scaling new Google/Microsoft products and AI capabilities.
Client & Partner Management
Operate as the most senior day-to-day search lead, and strategic partner to client stakeholders.
Influence broader integrated planning conversations, ensuring search has a seat at the table in defining brand and performance outcomes.
Represent WPP Media with platform partners, contributing to joint business plans, beta programmes, and capability building initiatives.
People Management
Reports to the Search Director
Directly manage and develop a team, setting high standards for delivery, communication, and craft expertise.
Support on resource shaping, succession planning, and long-term team capability development.
Contribute to recruitment efforts for your team, acting as an ambassador for EssenceMediacom and WPP Media
Shape the culture of your team through clear leadership behaviours, coaching, and championing collaboration across offices and markets.
Operational Excellence
Drive operational and process excellence, ensuring your team is efficient, effective and fully utilising WPP Media’s suite of AI tools, tech, and automation capabilities.
Contribute to commercial planning and identify opportunities for service evolution, scope expansion, and new revenue opportunities with clients.
Ensure full governance and compliance across financial, operational, and activation workflows.
Required Skills & Abilities
At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:
Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
Deep platform expertise with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with a strong
Significant experience leading complex search clients, either with multi-market, high profile or growth clients.
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders
Strong track record in developing and managing people
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional workstreams and collaborate effectively with Media, Planning, Data, Analytics, and Creative.
Deep platform expertise with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with a strong understanding of how AI, automation, and audience signals are evolving performance marketing.
